As if by magic, (Or how to set your goals)
My nemisis' name has just popped up on Facebook. He was the man to change my life for the better.
(Skip if you're looking for funnies)
When I was a young lad, I had a passion for my sport. So much so, I went for the county championships. I managed a bronze which you might think was not too shabby for a first attempt. Not for me. The chap who won, T, had ruined my sport. Shown me how good I should have been.
So I quit. Like many others at sixteen no doubt, I found the joys of sex, drugs and an element of rock an' roll.

Always in the back of my mind was what could have/should have been. Always too, was the knowledge that T would be there, no doubt far ahead of me.

So ten years or so later, I decided that I needed that bit of me time again, regardless of the fact T would be there, got back into the sport, trained mercilessly and found a new level of desire to win. It took three or four years to get to the level I felt comfortable with.

I went back to the county champs. T was there, looking just as able but with ten years of extra training under his belt.

I won the first comp. I won the second later that year. I even won the tougher third comp. So that year I held all three possible county cups in the sport.

T did not look too happy. I'd like to think I spurned him into more training, because the following year he came back for more. I beat him in all three disciplines again. (Particularly proud because I now had my name on the trophies spanning two centuries!)

At this time I'd also been coerced by my coach into doing masters internationals too. This meant even more training and lots of time away. (Didn't do too bad either, bronze in 2000 worlds best result, got a silver in 2001 Europeans!(Yes I know you don't care!))

This meant at the county champs third time round I was ready. Really ready with a few tricks up my sleeve. Yes I won, by a long way, and T retired from the sport. As did I. Not only had I beaten my nemesis, my own goals and the ravages of time, I had done it by a long way.
Apologies for length but not for content. A boring post I know, but relevant for once, and particularly touching as I was trying to think of a nemesis and up his name popped!

Who knows, ten years have passed since then, maybe I should give it another go?
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 4 May 2010, 12:25, 20 replies)

Why are you clearly unwilling to divulge what this sport it?
Is it something really embarrassing?
(TheManWithThePlan cussed your mum on, Tue 4 May 2010, 12:36, closed)

Haha!
Could be, could be, if you'd ever seen me in speedos you'd know!
Diving, dear doy, not the muff sort either I'm afraid to say.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 4 May 2010, 12:44, closed)

damn...
I was so sure that it was competitive masturbation. I almost took it up myself, being an enthusiastic amateur for many years, but injury put me out of any possible professional career.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Tue 4 May 2010, 16:21, closed)

Good god man!
I'm sure I saw a news article on this. Didn't the woman who "won" get 300 in 24hrs?
Obversly the man could only get 12!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 4 May 2010, 16:26, closed)

Ultimate Frisbee?

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Tue 4 May 2010, 13:42, closed)

Is this true?
Perhaps I've missed my true vocation.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 4 May 2010, 13:46, closed)

Water sports

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Tue 4 May 2010, 14:39, closed)

Of any sort...
All good!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 4 May 2010, 14:49, closed)

Bury the hatchet.
Ask T to join you in a synchronised diving team.
(sabre-tooth monkey, Tue 4 May 2010, 14:59, closed)

Good thinking.
but we were too different in style and body type to have made it work. Plus my synchro partner and I ruled!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 4 May 2010, 15:11, closed)

Go for a drink with him then.
You'd probably have a lot to talk about. you must both be pretty passionate about what you do.
(sabre-tooth monkey, Tue 4 May 2010, 15:14, closed)

That's a nice idea,
Chances are I'll meet him at one of the 'do's'. I don't think there's any animosity between us, it was more a case of competitiveness with myself.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 4 May 2010, 15:21, closed)

A nemesis of sorts
but he didn't do anything like, pull your shorts down before an important dive, pull the plug at the deep end and giggle while you landed on hard concrete. (yes i know pools don't have plugs)

I'm with the others on this one, sounds more like a potential mate than a nemesis, especially as you have no real probs with his personality etc...
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Tue 4 May 2010, 16:39, closed)

Ah, but it was always me see?
In my mind's eye he was the one I both aspired to and hated for beating me. It was years of this that finally made me bite the bullet and do something I'd never have done otherwise.
Well, it's as close to pertinant as I'm going to get this week!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 4 May 2010, 16:46, closed)

Also
I imagine there might be an intensely homoerotic charge crackling beneath this rivarly, just waiting to be ignited. Tell him he's been on your thoughts for a decade, which is nicely ambiguous - gives you the opportunity to back down while letting him know you're available. Assuming you are, of course!
(Happybara The jungle came alive and took him, Wed 5 May 2010, 10:44, closed)

Biglol's!
Wow, I'm gay? I never knew. Thanks Internet, you teach me something new every day!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Wed 5 May 2010, 11:29, closed)

Sorry!
I put two and two together and came up with five. Haven't you ever been tempted? I tried being gay for a while - mostly as an image thing, you know - but it just didn't work out.
(Happybara The jungle came alive and took him, Wed 5 May 2010, 11:59, closed)

I've only ever wondered if...
It would be less of a grievous rapport. But seeing my gay friends, perhaps not.
If there were some chap out there who floated my boat I'm sure I would. Hasn't happened yet!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Wed 5 May 2010, 13:05, closed)

That's the thing...
...and without wishing to offend any of my very dear gay friends on B3ta, of which of course I have MANY (not to mention the veritable avalanche of lesbian chums), I just couldn't get the hang of it. I've always wanted to be an Oscar Wilde-style dandy with rapier wit and sort of assumed man-lust came with the territory...

But when it was time to put my money where my mouth was, so to speak, I just ...couldn't. There was zero arousal factor. Most annoying. Now of course I'm married and grateful if I get any action at all. Perhaps I should have persisted - stuffed my face on that pillow and thought of England - Hurrah!
(Happybara The jungle came alive and took him, Wed 5 May 2010, 14:24, closed)

Ha!
I've no doubt there'd be more action if we were actually gay, I just find the chat up lines I've had tried on me a tad weird! (Not to mention the whole (hole?) arousal thing!)
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Wed 5 May 2010, 14:38, closed)